Long Island's Steven Matz makes Mets Triple-A debut Thursday

Binghamton Mets pitcher and Ward Melville native Matz is carried off the field by series MVP Xorge Carrillo while being doused with champagne after the Mets' Eastern League championship-clinching win on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014.. Photo Credit: Bruce Adler

Long Island native and prized pitching prospect Steven Matz makes his first Triple-A start Thursday night for Las Vegas in the Mets' affilliate's season-opening game at Fresno.

Matz, who was born in Stony Brook and went to Ward Melville High School, was selected in the second round of the 2009 draft and is universally considered one of the Mets' top prospects. He had a 2.24 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 24 starts last season with Single-A Advanced St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton. He helped lead Binghamton to an Eastern League championship in 2014.